Navi Mumbai: Jyoti Nadkarni, animal rescuer and firefighter, Nitin Tiwari, Kharghar resident who helped in fighting hill fires and Raghunath Jadav from Snake Awareness Aassociation were felicitated by the Fire Department for their exemplary role in helping fight fires. The citizens were felicitated as part of the Fire Service Week from April 14-20.

The fire fighters also demonstrated how to fight fire in various situations and actions to be implemented first before calling fire bridge.

Pravin Bodke, deputy chief fire officer, CIDCO, shared that the motto of the service week is to raise sufficient awareness among the citizens how to save themselves and their families if fire breaks out before the fire fighters to come.

“Fighting a fire anywhere is the responsibility of both general public as well as agencies like Fire Brigade. The citizens should not stay aloof as mere spectator depending on the Fire Brigade to reach and save them. They should also take some responsibility to fight a fire or rescue people -this is the main awareness which we delivered among the citizens,” Bodke said.

Jyoti Nadkarni, eminent activists and Animal rescuer shared her opinion to train local people to create a group of volunteers for supporting the purpose before the fire fighter reach the spot. Her views were appreciated by Vijay Rane, Chief Fire Officer, CIDCO and his team.

A grand procession was organised from New Panvel to Kharghar Fire Station as culmination event wherein the decorated fire Engines from Ulwe, Dronagiri, Kharghar fire stations and also from Panvel Municipal Corporation and CIDCO participated. Citizens appreciated the efforts taken up by   Chief Fire Officer Shri Vijay Rane, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Shri Pravin Bodke. Central Fire Department Officer Shri Saurabh Patil for motivating citizens to come forward.